66 squadron

1916 to 1969

Formed as fighter unit at Filton in Jun 1916 from 19 Squadron, it saw WWI service in France and Italy before disbanding in Oct 1919. Reformed at Duxford from C Flight of 19 Squadron in Jul 1936, after only 4 months with biplanes it remained an exclusively Spitfire unit throughout WWII until it disbanded again in Apr 1945.

Reformed again at Duxford (from 165 Squadron) on 1 Sep 1946 with Spitfires, it converted to Meteors and spent time between the UK and Germany, until it disbanded with Hunter F.6s at Acklington in Sep 1960.

Its short rotary-wing career began at RAF Odiham, where it was reformed from the year-old Belvedere Trials Unit in Sep 1961. It moved to Malaysia and had a tough time with the Belvedere spares and servicability in the hot and high conditions. Its numbers were boosted on 4 Dec 1965 when 4 airframes arrived from Aden, aboard HMS Albion. After service in the Far East in support of Malaysian operations, it disbanded in Mar 1969.